Alexander Shavva

Biography

Alexander Shavva was Head of unique Department of Natural Chemistry Department at Saint-Petersburg State University during 25 years (988-2014). He is
Founder of steroid scientifi c direction in 1975. He has published more than 4 5+ patents and 120+articles. He was member of International Scientifi c Commissions
and Head of Projects with big Pharmaceutical Firms.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most wide spread oncological diseases, and very oft en is estrogen-sensitive. Aromatase,
17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and estrone sulfatase (ES) are considered as suitable targets for the treatment of
hormone-sensitive oncological diseases. New inhibitors of these enzymes based on estrogen sulfamates are of special interest,
not least of all due to possibility for development of dual inhibitors of ES and aromatase or ES and 17β-HSD. Such inhibitors
also may play important role in the regulation of metabolic processes in prostate cancer. Almost all known steroid sulfamates
have natural skeleton, despite the fact that products of their hydrolysis should not have hormonal activity. We synthesized
sulfamates of 8α-steroid estrogen analogues and investigated perspectives of their use as inhibitors of BC cell growth, since
their metabolism is diff erent from metabolism of natural steroids. Additionally, some modifi cations in 8α-steroid skeleton
may be introduced easier. We showed that 7β-methyl-6-oxa-D-homo-8α-estronesulfamate (1) is perspective ES inhibitor, and
the product of its hydrolysis, 7β-methyl-6-oxa-D-homo-8α-estrone (2) has no hormonal activity. Docking of steroid 2 intoα-
ERLBD showed that crucial role in dramatic decreasing of uterotropic activity belongs to β-methyl group at С-7, that became
the reason for preparation of various 7β-methyl- steroids. Synthesized steroids 3 and 4 fully block the growth of BC MCF-7
cell lines at the concentration 20 γ/ml, and do not aff ect the normal human skin fi broblast cell line growth. Finally, we found
5 steroids with activity against BC cells as has clinical standard tamoxifen. Th is important fi nding opens the new strategy for
investigation of anti-cancer activity of such analogues in combination with medications having another mechanism of action.